Foot-and-mouth Disease Research Articles

Direct RNA Sequencing of Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus Genome Using a Flongle on MinION.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe and extremely contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed domestic and wild animals, which leads to serious economic losses to the livestock industry globally. FMD is caused by the FMD virus (FMDV), a positive-strand RNA virus that belongs to the genus Aphthovirus, within the family Picornaviridae. Early detection and characterization of FMDV strains are key factors to control new outbreaks and prevent the spread of the disease. Here, we describe a direct RNA sequencing method using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) Flongle flow cells on MinION Mk1C (or GridION) to characterize FMDV. This is a rapid, low cost, and easily deployed point of care (POC) method for a near real-time characterization of FMDV in endemic areas or outbreak investigation sites. Key features • Saves ~35 min of the original protocol time by omitting the reverse transcription step and lowers the costs of reagents and consumables. • Replaces the GridION flow cell from the original protocol with the Flongle, which saves ~90% on the flow cell cost. • Combines the NGS benchwork with a modified version of our African swine fever virus (ASFV) fast analysis pipeline to achieve FMDV characterization within minutes. Graphical overview Schematic of direct RNA sequencing of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) process, which takes ~50 min from extracted RNA to final loading, modified from the ONT SQK-RNA002 protocol (Version: DRS_9080_v2_revO_14Aug2019).

Evaluation of vaccine efficacy with 2B/T epitope conjugated porcine IgG-Fc recombinants against foot-and-mouth disease virus.

The inactivated vaccine is effective in controlling foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), but it has drawbacks such as the need for a biosafety level 3 laboratory facility to handle live foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), high production costs, and biological safety risks. In response to these challenges, we developed a new recombinant protein vaccine (2BT-pIgG-Fc) containing porcine IgG-Fc to enhance protein stability in the body. This vaccine incorporates two-repeat B-cell and one-single T-cell epitope derived from O/Jincheon/SKR/2014. Our study confirmed that 2BT-pIgG-Fc and a commercial FMDV vaccine induced FMDV-specific antibodies in guinea pigs at 28 days post-vaccination. The percentage inhibition (PI) value of 2BT-pIgG-Fc was 90.43%, and the commercial FMDV vaccine was 81.75%. The PI value of 2BT-pIgG-Fc was 8.68% higher than that of commercial FMDV vaccine. In pigs, the primary target animals for FMDV, all five individuals produced FMDV-specific antibodies 42 days after vaccination with 2BT-pIgG-Fc. Furthermore, serum from 2BT-pIgG-Fc-vaccinated pigs exhibited neutralizing ability against FMDV infection. Intriguingly, the 2BT-pIgG-Fc recombinant demonstrated FMDV-specific antibody production rates and neutralization efficiency similar to commercial inactivated vaccines. This study illustrates the potential to enhance vaccine efficacy by strategically combining well-known antigenic domains in the development of recombinant protein-based vaccines.

Effect of doubled dose administration of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine against heterologous virus infection in cattle.

Vaccination is a feasible approach for controlling foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). In FMD-free countries, vaccines are stored as a precautionary measure to control potential outbreaks. However, the challenge lies in pre-stocking optimal vaccines against the newly emerging strains. This study examined the potency of pre-stocked vaccines administered at elevated doses during emergencies. We vaccinated the cows with either a single or double trivalent vaccine dose containing two serotype O and one serotype A strains. Subsequently, vaccinated and unvaccinated cows were exposed to virulent strains of serotype O (O/JPN/2010; topotype Southeast Asia/Mya-98 lineage) or A (A/IRN/2016; topotype ASIA/G-VII lineage), which were genetically and antigenically distinct from the vaccine strains. Following challenge infections, all cows that received a single dose vaccination exhibited vesicular lesions with excreted viruses in the oral and nasal discharges. However, a substantial reduction was observed in the total clinical scores and virus titers in the sera and nasal discharges compared to those in the unvaccinated group. Cows receiving a doubled dose vaccination were completely protected from infection with O/JPN/2010 or demonstrated a significant decrease in viral shedding and clinical scores against A/IRN/2016. To note, vesicular lesions harbor significant amounts of viruses; thus, by mitigating their formation, viral transmission can be impeded, thereby slowing viral spread in the field. Furthermore, increasing the vaccine dose induced higher neutralizing antibody titers against heterologous strains. These findings suggest an alternative strategy for the effective management of future epidemics using pre-stocked vaccines.

Detection of antibodies against structural proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus in bovines of western Uttar Pradesh, India.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is considered as one of the most important contagious viral diseases affecting cloven-footed animals. For effective control of FMD, immunization along with herd immunity is essential in the field conditions. To assure and track the coverage and effectiveness of the vaccination program, the serological studies are very much required after the vaccination program. The present study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of antibodies against structural proteins of FMD virus (FMDV) serotypes of O, A and Asia-1 in seven districts of western Uttar Pradesh, India, and assure the efficacy of vaccination under National Animal Disease Control Program. A total of 308 sera samples were collected from apparent healthy vaccinated cattle and buffaloes from seven districts including Amroha, Baghpat, Bareilly, Bulandsahar, Gautam Budh Nagar, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar of western Uttar Pradesh, India. Determination of antibodies against structural proteins of FMDV was carried out using solid-phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protective level of the FMDV serotypes O, A and Asia-1 included in the inactivated trivalent vaccine was 66.55, 48.05 and 47.08% in bovines, respectively. To provide the higher level of protection against the circulating FMDV, the present study recommended the thorough investigation of the immunogenic interaction between the vaccine strains and the field strains. Further investigations should also be conducted with larger sample size and across diverse geographical regions to gain a more comprehensive understanding of herd immunity.

Beyond the Magic of Moringa oleifera: Its Potential to Control Indonesian Serotype of Footand-Mouth-Disease Virus Replication through Inhibition of 3-Cysteine Protease

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) poses a significant threat to livestock worldwide, necessitating innovative approaches to combat its causative agent, the FMD virus (FMDV). On the other hand, Moringa oleifera is a feed alternative for cattles with numerous bioactive compounds. This paper delves into the captivating realm of Moringa oleifera (MO) bioactives and their potential in thwarting FMDV replication by targeting the essential enzyme, 3C Protease (3CP). To elucidate the inhibitory potential of these bioactives, a rigorous investigation involving molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations was conducted. Specifically, the 3CP was modeled based on the amino acid sequence of FMDV Indonesian Serotype. Results showed that most of the compounds from MO outperformed Ribavirin as the standard therapy for FMD. Among them, Baicalin, Chlorogenic Acid, and Rutin have binding affinity -9.1, -8.1, and -8.1 kcal/mol, respectively. Those compounds also formed more hydrogen bonds than Ribavirin through their binding sites. Molecular dynamics simulation also revealed that interaction of 3CP with those compounds had minor influence on its structural stability. The conformation of those compounds is also more stable than Ribavirin, supported by more hydrogen bonds. In summary, this research highlighted the potential mechanism of MO bioactives in preventing severe FMDV infection through inhibition of viral replication.

Unveiling the spatial distribution and transboundary pathways of FMD serotype O in Western China and its bordering countries.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact on domestic animals and threatens wildlife survival in China and border countries. However, effective surveillance and prevention of this disease is often incomplete and unattainable due to the cost, the great diversity of wildlife hosts, the changing range and dynamics, and the diversity of FMDV. In this study, we used predictive models to reveal the spread and risk of FMD in anticipation of identifying key nodes to control its spread. For the first time, the spatial distribution of FMD serotype O was predicted in western China and border countries using a niche model, which is a combination of eco-geographic, human, topographic, and vegetation variables. The transboundary least-cost pathways (LCPs) model for ungulates in the study area were also calculated. Our study indicates that FMD serotype O survival is seasonal at low altitudes (March and June) and more sensitive to temperature differences at high altitudes. FMD serotype O risk was higher in Central Asian countries and both were highly correlated with the population variables. Ten LCPs were obtained representing Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.

Susceptibility of primary ovine dorsal soft palate and palatine tonsil cells to FMDV infection.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. This disease is one of the most important in animal health due to its significant socio-economic impact, especially in case of an outbreak. One important challenge associated with this disease is the ability of the FMD virus (FMDV) to persist in its hosts through still unresolved underlying mechanisms. The absence of relevant in vitro models is one factor preventing advancement in our understanding of FMDV persistence. While a primary bovine cell model has been established using cells from FMDV primary and persistence site in cattle, it appeared interesting to develop a similar model based on ovine anatomical sites of interest to compare host-pathogen interactions. Thus, epithelial cells derived from the palatine tonsils and the dorsal soft palate were isolated and cultured. Their epithelial nature was confirmed using immunofluorescence. Following monolayer infection with FMDV O/FRA/1/2001 Clone 2.2, the FMDV-sensitivity of these cells was evaluated. Dorsal soft palate (DSP) cells were also expanded in multilayers at the air-liquid interface to mimic a stratified epithelium sensitive to FMDV infection. Our investigation revealed the presence of infectious virus, as well as viral antigens and viral RNA, up to 35 days after infection of the cell multilayers. Further experiment with DSP cells from different individuals needs to be reproduced to confirm the robustness of the new model of persistence in multilayer DSP. The establishment of such primary cells creates new opportunities for FMDV research and analysis in sheep cells.

Extracellular vesicles derived from antigen-presenting cells pulsed with foot and mouth virus vaccine-antigens act as carriers of viral proteins and stimulate B cell response.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious infection caused by FMD-virus (FMDV) that affects livestock worldwide with significant economic impact. The main strategy for the control is vaccination with FMDV chemically inactivated with binary ethylenimine (FMDVi). In FMDV infection and vaccination, B cell response plays a major role by providing neutralizing/protective antibodies in animal models and natural hosts. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and small EVs (sEVs) such as exosomes are important in cellular communication. EVs secreted by antigen-presenting cells (APC) like dendritic cells (DCs) participate in the activation of B and T cells through the presentation of native antigen membrane-associated to B cells or by transferring MHC-peptide complexes to T cells and even complete antigens from DCs. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that APC activated with the FMDVi O1 Campos vaccine-antigens secrete EVs expressing viral proteins/peptides that could stimulate FMDV-specific immune response. The secretion of EVs-FMDVi is a time-dependent process and can only be isolated within the first 24 h post-activation. These vesicles express classical EVs markers (CD9, CD81, and CD63), along with immunoregulatory molecules (MHC-II and CD86). With an average size of 155 nm, they belong to the category of EVs. Studies conducted in vitro have demonstrated that EVs-FMDVi express antigens that can stimulate a specific B cell response against FMDV, including both marginal zone B cells (MZB) and follicular B cells (FoB). These vesicles can also indirectly or directly affect T cells, indicating that they express both B and T epitopes. Additionally, lymphocyte expansion induced by EVs-FMDVi is greater in splenocytes that have previously encountered viral antigens in vivo. The present study sheds light on the role of EVs derived from APC in regulating the adaptive immunity against FMDV. This novel insight contributes to our current understanding of the immune mechanisms triggered by APC during the antiviral immune response. Furthermore, these findings may have practical implications for the development of new vaccine platforms, providing a rational basis for the design of more effective vaccines against FMDV and other viral diseases.

Peripheral Blood Smear Analysis for Cattle with Foot and Mouth Diseases in Lembang, West Bandung

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is an infectious disease that is endemic and has a significant impact on dairy farming in Indonesia. In reducing the impact caused by FMD, proper handling by veterinarians is necessary. The peripheral blood smear can be used as a data reference to give priority to the right treatment for cattle with FMD. This study aimed to describe the appearance of peripheral blood smears in cattle with FMD. The study data were obtained from 15 cattle with FMD at KPSBU Lembang, West Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The morphological profile of the blood was examined using the peripheral blood smear method. Morphological abnormalities found in the peripheral blood smear of red blood cells were anisocytosis (microcytosis and macrocytosis), poikilocytosis (achanthocytosis and echinocytosis), and hypochromasia. Different morphological abnormalities of leukocytes can be caused by anorexia due to FMD secondary to lack of nutritional intake. To determine an effective and efficient treatment, it is recommended that veterinarians refer to the results of this study.

Hematological Profile in Dairy Cattle with Foot and Mouth Diseases in Lembang, West Bandung

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a widespread infectious disease that significantly affects the dairy farming sector in Indonesia. In reducing the impact caused by FMD, proper treatment performed by veterinarians is necessary. Hematological profile can be used as a data reference to prioritize dairy cattle infected with FMD. This study aimed to describe the hematological profile in dairy cattle with FMD infection. This study was collected data from 15 dairy cattle with FMD infection at Koperasi Peternak Sapi Bandung Utara (KPSBU), Lembang, West Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Parameters observed in the hematology analyzer were the numbers of erythrocytes, leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, and MPV. The results of the examination of hematological profile showed various numbers. It found lymphopenia, neutrophilia, and high MPV values. It was suggested for veterinarians to refer to this study's results to determine an effective and efficient treatment.

Genomic breeding simulation study to identify QTL associated with cattle disease traits in Hanwoo

This research used the simulation program to identify individuals resistant to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) using the QMSim program. The simulation program was utilized to generate genetic and phenotypic data for individuals with and without FMD immunity. Subsequently, based on the simulated data, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with FMD immunity. Additionally, the QTLs identified by GWAS were compared with Random Forest (RF) and XGBoost. Out of the 41,461 SNPs, which included QTLs generated from the simulation, a total of 20 markers were found to be associated with FMD immunity. When comparing the performance of GWAS, RF, and XGBoost, RF identified the highest number of QTLs (7), followed by GWAS (6) and XGBoost (3). Furthermore, GBLUP, RF, and XGBoost were employed to classify individuals as either having or lacking FMD immunity. The classification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were evaluated using a confusion matrix, and the results were compared. The overall accuracy of the classification was as follows: XGBoost 0.53, RF 0.52, GBLUP 0.51. Sensitivity values were RF 0.98, XGBoost 0.97, GBLUP 0.19, and specificity values were GBLUP 0.83, XGboost 0.08, RF 0.05. XGBoost consistently outperformed the other methods in the overall accuracy and sensitivity, while GBLUP exhibited the lowest performance. Therefore, the research suggests that combining various methods in an ensemble approach, rather than relying solely on GBLUP, can lead to better predictions of FMD-resistant individuals. This approach has the potential to help mitigate the damages caused by future FMD outbreaks.

Breed Lineage Prediction of Small Ruminants Using Deep Learning

Sheep are a significant food source for humans, besides cattle and poultry. Despite its significance to Malaysian Muslims, who make up approximately 60% of the local population, the sheep supply is limited by the high mortality rate caused by fatal diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD) and tetanus. Infected sheep can spread food-borne bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, at various preparation phases, contaminating the meat. The objectives of this study are to identify internal and external factors that influence sheep breed lineage continuity, investigate current practices for collecting and managing data knowledge on sheep breed and hereditary diseases, and propose a sheep breed and disease data knowledge model based on the feedforward artificial neural network (FANN) deep learning method. This study utilized qualitative and quantitative data to obtain in-depth answers to the research questions, which involves collecting all the information required for the system development using the FANN deep learning method. This study found that breeding is the leading data group for tracking each sheep's ADG and BCS. Feed type, sanitization, and medication influence sheep’s daily increase and health. Collaboration, worker knowledge, and climate are recognized as external factors that potentially influence sheep's daily increase. The interview analysis also suggested attributes that could contribute to detecting breed lineage, including breed, category, ADG, and BCS. Therefore, it is recommended that future research adopt this method for other farmed animals.

Breed Lineage Prediction of Small Ruminants Using Deep Learning

Sheep are a significant food source for humans, besides cattle and poultry. Despite its significance to Malaysian Muslims, who make up approximately 60% of the local population, the sheep supply is limited by the high mortality rate caused by fatal diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD) and tetanus. Infected sheep can spread food-borne bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, at various preparation phases, contaminating the meat. The objectives of this study are to identify internal and external factors that influence sheep breed lineage continuity, investigate current practices for collecting and managing data knowledge on sheep breed and hereditary diseases, and propose a sheep breed and disease data knowledge model based on the feedforward artificial neural network (FANN) deep learning method. This study utilized qualitative and quantitative data to obtain in-depth answers to the research questions, which involves collecting all the information required for the system development using the FANN deep learning method. This study found that breeding is the leading data group for tracking each sheep's ADG and BCS. Feed type, sanitization, and medication influence sheep’s daily increase and health. Collaboration, worker knowledge, and climate are recognized as external factors that potentially influence sheep's daily increase. The interview analysis also suggested attributes that could contribute to detecting breed lineage, including breed, category, ADG, and BCS. Therefore, it is recommended that future research adopt this method for other farmed animals.

Breed Lineage Prediction of Small Ruminants Using Deep Learning

Sheep are a significant food source for humans, besides cattle and poultry. Despite its significance to Malaysian Muslims, who make up approximately 60% of the local population, the sheep supply is limited by the high mortality rate caused by fatal diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD) and tetanus. Infected sheep can spread food-borne bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, at various preparation phases, contaminating the meat. The objectives of this study are to identify internal and external factors that influence sheep breed lineage continuity, investigate current practices for collecting and managing data knowledge on sheep breed and hereditary diseases, and propose a sheep breed and disease data knowledge model based on the feedforward artificial neural network (FANN) deep learning method. This study utilized qualitative and quantitative data to obtain in-depth answers to the research questions, which involves collecting all the information required for the system development using the FANN deep learning method. This study found that breeding is the leading data group for tracking each sheep's ADG and BCS. Feed type, sanitization, and medication influence sheep’s daily increase and health. Collaboration, worker knowledge, and climate are recognized as external factors that potentially influence sheep's daily increase. The interview analysis also suggested attributes that could contribute to detecting breed lineage, including breed, category, ADG, and BCS. Therefore, it is recommended that future research adopt this method for other farmed animals.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD): Etiology, Pathogenesis, Prevention and Control in Even or Split Hoofed Livestock

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) was first reported in 1987 in Malang, East Java, caused by imported dairy cattle from the Netherlands. After 36 years of FMD freedom, the disease was re-introduced on 5 May 2022 in East Java. The disease is caused by a virus of the genus Aphthovirus of the Picornaviridae family, which affects even-toed or split-hoofed livestock, both wild and domesticated. Transmission of FMD virus from sick animals to other susceptible animals can occur directly and indirectly. FMD virus can be transmitted rapidly, entering the animal's body directly through the mouth or nose and replicating in epithelial cells in the nasopharyngeal area, then entering the blood (viremia), then multiplying in lymphoglandular glands and epithelial cells in the mouth and footpads resulting in vesicle lesions and blisters. Animals or livestock infected with FMD will show clinical symptoms such as fever up to 41oC, the formation of vesicles or blisters on the mouth, gums, tongue, nipples, and skin around the hooves, hypersalivation, weight loss, and livestock production. Handling and controlling FMD in livestock or animals can be done by isolating and quarantining sick animals, vaccination programs, biosecurity measures in animal husbandry, monitoring livestock traffic, and conducting surveillance.

Compared to Aluminum Hydroxide Adjuvant, Montanide ISA 206 VG Induces a Higher and More Durable Neutralizing Antibody Response against FMDV in Goats.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has a high prevalence in cloven-hoofed animals. It is also highly contagious and remains a serious threat to livestock worldwide. Despite the widespread vaccination program in Iran, outbreaks of FMD continue to occur. Vaccination is one of the most effective methods of preventing FMD. The vaccines used in Iran are of the inactivated type and contain several serotypes. Since inactivated vaccines without adjuvants do not induce a high and durable antibody response, it is necessary to use adjuvants. Montanide ISA 206 VG is a mineral oil-based adjuvant that produces a water-in-oil-in-water (w:o:w) emulsion in vaccine preparations. However, a large number of manufacturers in Iran and around the world still use alum adjuvant (with or without saponin) to produce the FMD vaccine. This study used Montanide ISA 206 and alum adjuvants to administer the O2010 serotype of the FMD virus to goats. A total of six goats were divided randomly into three groups. Vaccines were administered subcutaneously twice, at a one-month interval. Blood sampling was done at different times, and the micro-neutralization method was used to measure the neutralizing antibody titer in each serum. Seven days after the second vaccination, the alum group's antibody titer was higher but not statistically significant. However, from the 28th day after the second injection until the end of the study, the Montanide ISA 206 group's antibody titer was significantly higher than that of the alum group. Six months after the second injection, the antibody titer in the ISA 206 group remained at the peak level, while in the alum group, it decreased and reached the minimum protective level. Nine months after the second injection, the antibody titer remained at its peak level in the ISA 206 group, whereas it dropped significantly in the alum group. Based on the findings, ISA 206 VG is capable of generating long-term humoral immunity in goats against the FMD serotype O2010 and could replace aluminum hydroxide adjuvants in FMD vaccine preparations.

The milk production of recovered dairy cows from foot-and-mouth disease in the Medowo Village, Kandangan Subdistrict, Kediri

The outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) has caused a crisis for Indonesian farmers, particularly dairy cattle in Medowo village. The FMD outbreak affected the whole dairy cow population in Medowo, resulting in major losses defined by high mortality rates and a halt in milk production during the cows' FMD infection. Dairy cows, which are essential for maintaining milk production and providing an economic foundation for Medowo's farmers, led our team to execute community service from January to August 2023. Socialization and data collection on farmers and their cows were followed by laboratory testing for mastitis identification and treatment. The outreach events focused on mastitis care for cows, promoting talks to solve farmers' issues, particularly in livestock health. Farmers were instructed on how to report subclinical mastitis instances to appropriate authorities, were trained on how to prepare fermented feed/silage with probiotics to improve feed quality, and were monitored for overall evaluation. The milk production data collected showed that morning yield produce higher quantity than afternoon yield. The lowest milk production occurs in September, while the highest is observed in November. Overall, data from dairy cow milk production in Medowo Village after FMD outbreak show a satisfactory result, illustrating the success of community service programs. Future initiatives should include collecting data on a regular basis to allow for ongoing evaluation and continued improvement in milk production.

Clinical and Molecular Detections of Lumpy Skin Disease: Possibilities of Co-infection with Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot and mouth disease (FMD) are notable viral diseases of cattle. This report aimed to highlight the possibilities of an uncommon case of LSD and FMD co-infection. The report also presents the clinical and molecular detection of LSD virus in six crossbred calves and LSD and FMD virus co-infection in a heifer at small-scale dairy farms located in northern Ethiopia. Nasal swabs and tissue samples were collected following aseptic techniques from the six calves suspected of having LSD and a tissue sample from one heifer suspected of having LSD-FMD co-infection and submitted to the laboratory for cell culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Different-sized, firm, painful skin nodules with necrotic centers were seen on different parts of the calves’ body. Swelling of the prescapular and prefemoral lymph nodes, conjunctivitis, and corneal cloudiness were also observed. Uniquely, one heifer was seen with erosive lesions in the oral cavity and tongue, salivation, lameness, and skin nodules. Intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, a distinctive feature of LSD virus, and the formation of syncytia, a characteristic of FMD virus, were observed in the cell lines. The heifer was diagnosed with a rare co-infection of LSDV and FMDV based on clinical signs, cell culture, and real-time PCR test results. The other six calves were diagnosed with the LSD virus. Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, local wound cleansing, and anti-inflammatory drugs was initiated. Unfortunately, the heifer with LSD-FMD co-infection died while under treatment, and just three calves with LSD were recovered. It can be concluded that vaccination of animals against both diseases and promotion of bio-security protocols in farms is more helpful than treatment, and early case reporting is also warranted to avoid losses related to the diseases.

Evaluation of the humoral immunity in mice induced by foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particles-ZIF-8 complexes with different sizes

To further enhance the immune effect of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus-like particles (VLPs) vaccine, this study prepared FMDV VLPs-zeolitic imidazolate (framework-8, ZIF-8) complexes with different particle sizes. We used a biomimetic mineralization method with Zn2+ and 2-methylimidazole in different concentration ratios to investigate the effect of size on the immunization effect. The results showed that FMDV VLPs-ZIF-8 with three different sizes were successfully prepared, with an approximate size of 70 nm, 100 nm, and 1 000 nm, respectively. Cytotoxicity and animal toxicity tests showed that all three complexes exhibited excellent biological safety. Immunization tests in mice showed that all three complexes enhanced the titers of neutralizing and specific antibodies, and their immune effects improved as the size of the complexes decreased. This study showed that ZIF-8 encapsulation of FMDV VLPs significantly enhanced their immunogenic effect in a size-dependent manner.

Sejarah Perdagangan Babi dari Pulau Bulan Batam ke Singapura, 1987-2023

This research delves into the pig trade history from Pulau Bulan, Batam, to Singapore spanning 1987 to 2023. In response to the 1984 policy eliminating domestic livestock farming, Singapore became reliant on imported meat. Employing a historical research method and drawing on literature reviews, the study identifies PT Indo Tirta Suaka's Pulau Bulan pig farm as Southeast Asia's largest and Singapore's primary live pig importer, initiating exports in 1987. Disruptions occurred, such as Singapore's cessation of pig supplies from Malaysia during Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks in Sarawak (1999-2017) and the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a significant setback unfolded with the detection of African Swine Fever (ASF) on April 19, 2023. Subsequent tests confirmed ASF in Pulau Bulan pig samples, prompting Singapore to officially halt pig supplies. This resulted in a substantial monthly and yearly loss of approximately IDR 3.5 billion and IDR 1.1 trillion, respectively, in pig exports from Pulau Bulan to Singapore.